Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-20
LEADING KNIGHTS OF LABoH.
Messrs. Hayes and o'ReiiIy VISIT
Ing Richmond.

Mesrs. John W. Hayes, Of New
Brunswick, n. j., and Tom O'Reilly,
Of New York, members Of the Ma
tional Executive Board, knights
of Labor, have been in the city
since Friday. They arrived that
morning and took quarters at Ford's
Hotel, where they stopped. when the
General Assembly OF that order was in
session here few months ago. Mr..
O'Reilly, besides being a member of
this Board, is also president of the
National Telegrapbers' Union, which is
q strong organization, with a large
membership. All, or nearly all, Of its
members in New York city are also
members of District IS, Knights OF La
Dor.
WHY ARE THEY HERE?
When it became known that these
gentlemen we're in the city the question
was generally asked, "What brought
| them here 2" or "What is the meaning
of their presence ?" The first thought
naturally was that their visit had
some connection with the Old
Dominion Steamship Company's re-
cent troubles or with advising
the employees of that company here
what course they should pursue in the
matter. The announcement in the
Labor Hor0id OF yesterday that spe-
cial meeting of District Assembly "a
would be held last night but added to
this belief The most dlligent inquiry,
however, failed to sustain such a sur
| mise.
Mr.. William II. Mullen, master work
man of District Assembly No. 81, spent
some time with these gentlemen yester-
day, but whether with reference to this
matter or not could not be learned.
NOT AT THE MEETING.
A Dispatch reporter called at the
hall of the United Veterans, on Capt.
tol street, about 1890 o'clock, and saw
one of the prominent members of the
District Assembly, which was then and
there in session, with reference to the
matter. He said that the call for this
meeting was issued last Saturday night,
when a regular meeting was held, or,
in other words, that it was the same
as an adjourned meeting that he was
not at liberty to say what was done in
the Assembly, but that with propriety
and in all candor he could say that
only routine, secret business and no.
thing of interest was being considered
that the Old Dominion troubles had
never been mentioned in this or any
previous meeting of the Assembly.
Messrs. Hayes and OReilly We're not
ut this meeting, had not been there du
ring the evening, and this Knight did
not know the object of their visit to the
city, how long they would stay, OF
where they were going MIR. Mullen
who was present at the meeting, wa
communicated with by card, and asked
when these gentlemen would leave tho
city and where they would go. He
being too much engaged to be
seen replied on card that they would
leave this morning for Petersburg.
The reporter called at Ford's at 10:4t
and sent up his card. The answer came
"Mr. Hayes is asleep and the othel
gentleman says please call in the morn
ing"
ORGANIZING TELEGRAPHERS.
A telegraph-operator employed at thu
Southern Telegraph Company's Office
said last night that Mr.. O'Reilly i
travelling through the South trying t.
organize telegraphers' unions in tn
several cities. Since he has beer
here he has sent for numerou
local operators and consulted will
them with view to more thoroughly
organizing the members of the trade
here. No united action, however, ha
been taken.
I Mr.. Hayes is accompanying Mr.
OReilly, no doubt consulting with The
district master workmen. 1t is under
stood that he is on his way to Birming
ham on official business.
There are about forty men employed
on the docks here by the Old Dominion
Company. One of the officers SAT-
yesterday that they anticipate NJ
trouble.